Despite analyst fears that Apple couldn’t match last year’s record holiday quarter sales of $74.6B, the guidance issued by the company indicates that it expects to do so. Analysts had been concerned that last year’s record sales had been driven by pent-up demand for larger-screened iPhones, demand that has now been satisfied.

Apple, however, disagrees. The company yesterday issued guidance of $75.5B to $77.5B revenue, which would be a new record. It also said that it expects to maintain its high profit margins into the final quarter of the calendar year (Q1 of Apple’s fiscal year) … expand full story